November Mailbag: A reunion, an election and 'Mount Mud'

Tuesday

Nov 14, 2017 at 4:00 AM

By Jeffery Snedden For The Times

Up until a few weeks ago, it seemed as if the summer weather was going to last forever. Unfortunately, reality has set in fairly quickly, as it is known to do, and Mother Nature is once again letting us know that we do – in fact – live in western Pennsylvania.

While the sudden change in temperatures can be jarring, I have to admit that I am a winter person. Specifically, I enjoy this time of the year, when the foliage begins to give way, revealing many of the historic treasures our county hides during the spring and summer months.

I highly recommend a walk along the banks of the Beaver River, or a hike through the valley of Raccoon Creek. Both areas contain a multitude of history, from old canal and mill walls, to foundations of long-forgotten buildings.

For those of you who can’t get out into the wilderness, we have plenty of exploring to do right here in “Histories & Mysteries,” and you don’t even have to break out your winter coat to enjoy it.

This week is the November Mailbag. Let’s jump right in and talk some history.

Early immigrants to Woodlawn

I received a fantastic news clipping from a former Hopewell Township native, and I believe it illustrates the importance that immigration had on the history of Aliquippa. It comes from the Nov. 4, 1938 edition of the Aliquippa Gazette, and tells a story that almost feels like it was ripped straight out of a movie script.

Woodlawn (today, Aliquippa) was incorporated in 1908, and immediately became a draw for European immigrants, who were looking for a place to put down roots. Between 1910 and 1920, Woodlawn exploded with growth, and its neighborhoods - known as “Plans” - began to develop their own special blend of ethnic clubs, churches and businesses. The Jones & Laughlin Steel Company’s Aliquippa Works provided robust employment, and by 1930, Aliquippa was home to over 27,000 people.

That background information is important, as it lays the groundwork for our story.

Thomas Capperes and John Cavoulis were both born in Chios, Greece during the late 19th century. Living only a few blocks away from each other, they developed a fast friendship, attending the same school, and in fact, even courting the same girl. In 1899, both young men left Greece with their families, setting sail for a future in the United States of America.

It was at that point that the two friends lost track of each other. Capperes married, and in 1909, he moved his family to the new industrial town of Woodlawn. He secured employment at the J&L Steel mill, purchasing a small house for his young family.

One day, while working in the recesses of the mill, he noticed a fellow employee who looked familiar. As he walked over to the man, he began to realize that it was his childhood friend, John Cavoulis. The two men reunited, and within a few years, they were ready to strike out on their own and start a business.

In 1915, they rented a small storefront on Highland Avenue and opened a general merchandise store, naming it Crystal Market. Seven years later, they have been successful enough to build their own building, doing so on the corner of Highland Avenue and Kiehl Street.

Crystal Market became an Aliquippa landmark, especially for Greek-American citizens, who could purchase special Greek food items there. By the time the Aliquippa Gazette article was published in 1938, the two friends had been in business for 23 years.

The odds of two friends from a small, coastal town in Greece reuniting in Beaver County, Pennsylvania had to be one in a million. Both men cherished their friendship with one another, and realized how lucky they had been. “We don’t know how it happened, but it just did” said Capperes, adding “we know how fortunate we are, to be together, and to have the benefits and privileges of this wonderful land.”

Crystal Market remained in business until the 1970s. Unfortunately, I was unable to find further information on either of the owners. Perhaps a reader could fill us in on the rest of this amazing story?

The early village of Adamsville

Last week’s column on Ing-Rich was very popular with our readers. I received several emails requesting information on the history of the Mount Washington neighborhood of Beaver Falls, where many of the Ing-Rich workers made their homes.

Mt. Washington was originally part of Adamsville, one of the very early villages in what would become Beaver Falls. Adamsville was founded by Dr. Samuel Adams, the first legally-deeded settler along the “Falls of the Beaver.” Adams himself owned a sawmill along the river, living in Adamsville until his death in 1832.

The children of Dr. Adams, including his son Milo, divided the land of Adamsville into lots after their father’s passing. Although the name Adamsville could be found on local maps as late as 1865, the portion along the hillside adopted the name Mount Washington.

After 1868, the northern portion of Beaver Falls began to develop rapidly. Unfortunately, infrastructure lagged behind, and most roads north of 11th Street were not paved until the 1890s. Mount Washington, specifically, had very muddy roads and streets. For this trait, the neighborhood earned the nickname “Mount Mud,” a moniker many still use to this day.

Mount Washington grew during the late 1800s, becoming home to many German, Irish and English immigrants. It was known for a stone quarry and several clay mines, and later, for coal mining. By the early 1900s, the area was home to the Kerner, Gavin, Irvin, Yoho, Whistlar and Humes families.

A political dogfight in 1888

Last Tuesday was Election Day, and once again, the voters of Beaver County hit the polls to help determine the winners of numerous judicial, municipal and school board positions. Controversy goes hand-in-hand with politics, and Beaver County has not been immune to crazy election time rumors and innuendo.

One such event occurred in November 1888, when one of Beaver County’s most distinguished historical figures found himself in the middle of a political dogfight. John F. Dravo, an icon in the industrial world, was running for a second term in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. A Republican, Dravo was running a campaign based around morality, and specifically, against the evils of alcohol.

On Nov. 6, one day before the election, the chairman of the county Democratic committee, Lewis F. Reed, gave a speech on the steps of the Beaver County Courthouse. In his speech, Reed accused Dravo of using liquor to bribe voters in the previous election, which had occurred in 1886. Reed stated that he had proof that Dravo’s son, John Dravo Jr., had distributed beer and whisky to voters in Beaver on Election Day 1886.

Beaver, of course, was a dry town. Reed produced sworn statements by several voters, who all said that they had been “swayed” with “free booze” to cast a vote for Dravo. By 19th century standards, this was a monumental scandal!

Dravo had crafted his entire professional life on the issues of morality and faith. Entering the coal business at the tender age of 17, he succeeded almost immediately. At just 35, he founded the town of Dravosburg in Allegheny County. During the late 1850s, he was struck by the cause of abolition, and decided to try his hand at politics. By all indications, Dravo was an honorable, trustworthy man.

In an interview with the Pittsburgh Daily Post on Nov. 7, Dravo denied the allegations. As home to several Anti-Saloon groups, Beaver County was abuzz over the controversy. Would this startling revelation hurt Dravo in the polls? Or, would the people of our county trust the word of one of their most celebrated citizens?

In the end, Dravo still won his second term, although the final vote count was much closer than originally expected. He would go on to serve as Collector of the Port in Pittsburgh under Presidents Garfield and Harrison, and – in a touch of irony - it was he who originally drafted the first prohibition amendment for Pennsylvania. He died in 1905, and is buried in Beaver Cemetery.

If you have any subjects, questions, or comments for Histories & Mysteries, please send them to historiesandmysteries@yahoo.com. Each week, we will choose a few new topics and update past ones with readers notes and questions.

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